By Cindy Parkinson
DEEPAVALI, or Diwali as it is popularly called, is one of the most celebrated festivals among Hindus across the world.

In Guyana, many look forward to the sweetmeats, rangolis, lit diyas, beautifully decorated houses, and, most of all, the motorcades.

The COVID-19 pandemic halted many aspects of the annual celebrations. However, with the lifting of the restrictions, the country is beginning to return to normalcy.

For the first time since Guyana recorded its first COVID-19 case, various Diwali activities are being held. Among them are the motorcades in various parts of the country.

Essequibians will not be left out of the festivities this year. The region’s annual motorcade retuned on Thursday evening, lighting up the roadways on the Essequibo Coast, and impressing the hundreds of residents who came out to view it.

Those who did not line the streets to get a glimpse of the motorcade, congregated at the Anna Regina car park, where the final judging took place.

The judges had their work cut out for them, as the mandirs and others who participated in the activity were very creative.

In the end, the Golden Fleece Vishva Joti Mandir, which is known for having the biggest float on the Essequibo Coast and in Guyana, was declared the winner, followed by the Airy Hall Mandir and the Affiance Vishnu Mandir.

In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, President of the Golden Fleece Vishva Joti Mandir, Devendranath Sukhdeo thanked devotees and the community for their support in creating the winning float.

“Without the help and participation of the people in our mandir and the community, our float would not have been able to depict the various stories from the Ramayan. They persevered, despite the conditions and difficulties, without complaining. I want to give a particular thank you to Dream Touch Décor’s owner and our lead designer, Vishnu Mahadeo. All the other mandirs that took part deserve congratulations. They also did a great job, and I’m asking the other mandirs to participate, come next year. It is a great opportunity to get our youths and young people involved in their culture,” he told this publication.

Sukhdeo also thanked the Government of Guyana for “checking up on their progress” as they were preparing for the event.

In conclusion, he called on all Guyanese to “Let the light outshine the darkness in your lives, and let us all live in harmony under our One Guyana theme.”

Meanwhile, Vishnu Mahadeo, the main designer of the winning float, was also thankful for the support he received. He, too, acknowledged the involvement of the government, and several young persons who displayed their eagerness to promote their culture and Dharma.

The Golden Fleece Mandir will also be participating in the West Coast Demerara motorcade, scheduled for today, and the East Coast Demerara motorcade, which will be held tomorrow.

Mayadevi Awadhesh told the Guyana Chronicle that she was impressed, and was already looking forward to next year’s motorcade.

“It was a night that we were looking forward to, and it did not disappoint. The floats were beautifully decorated, and the participants, along with the people, were well dressed, with most of them in their traditional wear. After last night, I finally felt that we are in the Diwali season. Even though we lit our diyas last year and the year before, I missed this part of Diwali. Aside from Diwali night itself, this is what we enjoy as a people. Looking at the children’s faces, you could have seen the smiles and excitement. It was wonderful to see people of all races and religions present; not just Hindus. It was an amazing experience, and I cannot wait for next year. I believe it will be bigger and better,” she said.
Minister of Human Services and Social Security Dr. Vindhya Persaud, who is the President of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, was in attendance, and shared the message of Deepavali.

She also expressed her pleasure at seeing the quality of work that was displayed in the motorcade.

The grand motorcade will be held tomorrow, which is the eve of Diwali, and will begin at the Campbellville Mandir and end at La Bonne Intention (LBI), East Coast Demerara, where there will be a cultural extravaganza.